MATER DOLOROSA L. LeoL. |E . Barbella |F. Durante |A . Sc arlatti Per |G. B. golesi

© F. Cresens MATER DOLOROSA Leonardo Leo (1694-1744) sinfonia dall’ oratorio santa elena al calvario | Emanuele Barbella (1718-1777) concerto a quattro fugato sul stile di chiesa in d minor | Francesco Durante (1684-1755) concerto nr. 8 in a major (“la piazza”) | Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) ouverture of the oratorio cain overo il primo omicidio | Giovanni Battista Per golesi (1710-1736) stabat mater in f minor

Length NAPLES, BUSY ACHIEVING POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE, EMBARKED ON 35 minutes + 45 minutes A CONSIDERABLE ARTISTIC FLIGHT IN THE 17th CENTURY, ACQUIRING PRE-EMINENCE IN THE FIELD OF MUSICAL CREATIVITY IN ITALY, AND Performers: 15 musicians OVERSHADOWING OTHER CITIES SUCH AS ROME AND VENICE soloists soprano, alto The demand for music from all the Neapolitan institutions, churches and theaters, les muffatti together with the quality expected, encouraged the founding of genuine musical 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, conservatori. This program spans several generations of composers, all of whom double bass, organ, lute were either a teacher or student at one or other of the Neapolitan conservatoria. timeframe Leonardo Leo was one of the most important Neapolitan composers of oratorios Season 2017-2018 and operas. An organist at the court, he spent a good part of his career there. The oratorio Santa Elena al Calvario (1734, text by Metastasio) represents the Budget summit of his career. Upon request Among the composers featured in this program, Emanuele Barbella is the least known today. A prominent student of Leonardo Leo, he was celebrated from Contact London to Paris at the time, where dozens of his works were published. His les muffatti musical language is formed from Neapolitan elements: striking thematic and Emilie Menz dynamic contrasts, surprising harmonies, and multiple chromatic shifts. General Manager +32 (0)474 533 148 Francesco Durante was perhaps the most renowned Neapolitan composer of +32 (0)2 503 27 33 the period. An extensive body of religious works, vocal duets, keyboard music [email protected] and several concertos in a mixed style, many of which include virtuoso and lyrical passages, have survived.

> www.lesmuffatti.be Alessandro Scarlatti worked in Naples for many years. The three-movement overture is typical of his writing, and it was undoubtedly his influence that stand- ardised the “Italian overture” form for the next generation.

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi composed his Stabat Mater, one of the greatest masterpieces of the baroque period, in 1735. It is one of the most poignant settings of this 13th century poem, composed in a very controlled and chastened style, perfectly in keeping with its tragic text.